WALTHAM, Mass. -The Brandeis softball team won both games of a doubleheader over Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon. The Judges scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the first game, 4-3, and then took the second game, 1-0, in a tight one. With the two wins, Brandeis is now 20-12 on the season while Wesleyan drops to 11-17 on the year.
In the first game, Brandeis took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI single by junior SS Chelsea Korp (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) to drive in sophomore CF Carly Schmand (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) who had reached base on a single and then advanced to second on a hit-by-pitch and then to third on a stolen base. Brandeis held their 1-0 lead until the sixth inning. Wesleyan tied the game up at 1-1 on an RBI single to centerfield by senior LF Julia Chamberlain (Evergreen, Colo./Colorado Academy). The Cardinals added two more runs in the top half of the seventh inning to take a 3-1 lead. They scored on three hits and one Brandeis error.
The Judges came back in the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back singles by sophomore 2B Melissa Cagar (Ridgewood, N.J/Ridgewood) and rookie RF Lara Hirschler (Bellmore, N.Y./ John F. Kennedy). Cagar moved to third on a fly out to the right fielder and then would score on an error by the third basemen to make it a 3-2 ball game. Sophomore 3B Danielle Lavallee (Sutton, Mass./Notre Dame Academy) stepped to the plate and walked, to load the bases. With Brandeis down to their final out, junior C Erin Ross (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) doubled to drive home the game-winning RBIs.
In the second half of the doubleheader, the Judges were on the winning end of a pitchers dual. Brandeis junior P Emily Vaillette (Milford, N.H./Milford) threw a complete-game shutout giving up only four walks and three hits while striking out four Cardinals. Wesleyan P Chelsea Swete (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) picked up the loss as she gave up only five hits and three walks while striking out three batters. With two outs i the sixth inning, rookie LF Brittany Grimm (Perkiomenville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) singled up the middle. Senior 3B Samantha Worth (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) singled to centerfield. On the play, the centerfielder made an error and Grimm scored from second to put the Judges on top, 1-0. The Cardinals could not get a run home in the top of the seventh as Brandeis held on for the victory.
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